BCCI’s domestic push for Rohit, Kohli must go beyond symbolism

In a cricketing ecosystem as vast and layered as India’s, the relationship between domestic and international cricket has long been fraught with contradictions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s recent expectation that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – two of the most accomplished cricketers of their generation – feature in domestic tournaments such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they wish to remain available for national selection, signals both intent and introspection.

It is a reminder that even the game’s biggest names cannot remain detached from the grassroots that sustain the sport’s vitality. Yet, for this directive to be meaningful, it must transcend the realm of optics. The BCCI’s stance may be rooted in fairness, for younger aspirants are often dropped or sidelined for skipping domestic fixtures.

Requiring the senior-most players to adhere to similar expectations, reaffirms that no individual stands above the game’s institutional integrity. It also serves an academic purpose: for emerging cricketers, the sight of Rohit or Kohli turning up for their state sides would reinforce the continuing value of domestic cricket as the foundation of India’s international dominance.

However, the question is not merely whether the two icons should play domestic cricket, but whether India’s domestic structure is adequately equipped to engage players of their stature. The Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy remain essential pathways to national recognition, yet their scheduling often clashes with international fixtures, leaving little breathing space for cross-format participation.

Unless the domestic calendar is rationalised to accommodate both developmental and elite commitments, even the most well-intentioned directive risks being reduced to a token gesture. Moreover, domestic cricket’s challenges extend beyond attendance. The limited crowds, modest media coverage, and uneven financial incentives have eroded its prestige over the years.

The BCCI’s expectation, therefore, must form part of a broader rejuvenation – improved broadcasting, enhanced infrastructure, and equitable player contracts that make domestic cricket a viable and respected pursuit in itself. If the presence of Rohit and Kohli can draw attention back to these tournaments, the board should harness that moment not as spectacle but as a springboard for reform.

Equally important is the management of workload and motivation. Both players are in their mid-thirties and in the twilight of their international careers. Man dating domestic appearances without due regard for recovery and longevity could prove counterproductive. Instead, a more flexible model – where senior players undertake short mentoring stints, leadership roles, or selective appearances in domestic fixtures – could yield richer dividends.

This approach would balance the symbolic with the sustainable. In any case, like the BCCI’s message reflects, the broader truth is that Indian cricket cannot afford the disconnect between its apex and base. Domestic cricket is not merely a feeder system but the living soil from which the national game grows.

For the stars who once emerged from its ranks, returning to that soil – even if briefly – would complete a moral circle. For the board, however, the task is to ensure that such returns are not exceptions to policy but cornerstones of a reinvigorated cricketing ecosystem.